Florian and the (Slot) Machine

[Halmeister]

He's definitely a good player technically, and yeah, we're utter shite and don't have any discernible style of play, but I just don't see where he fits in. Combine that with everyone in the league reverting to Stokeball this season and he's just getting dominated every game.

I actually thought the City game might suit him. A more tactical, technical game under the lights with the whole world watching. Nope. Absolutely bullied by some stump who's shunted out to right back because he's not good enough to play anywhere else.

I'm calling it. I had high hopes, but this isn't going to work. Dud.

 

[Halmeister]

I think it was Carragher that said it. Someone did anyway. But this wasn't a Liverpool signing. We rarely sign the big money star. We usually sign a player the level below and turn them into that star. Coupled with the fact he's not really a Liverpool style player. He should've joined City or Arsenal. Bayern actually. He should've stayed in that farmer's league. The pace and the physicality is too much for him here.

 

[Farkmaster]

I think he'd be fine in a balanced side, and more than useful in any good side.

 

[jan]

I don't know anymore. There are games where it looks like it's going to happen for him but then he turns into a shit Lallana again.

On one hand, it's easy to forget how young he is but on the other hand, Bundesliga tax is crazy these days. Look at that fake Xavi at Spurs or the new gimp Chelsea bought, both expensive and useless so far

 

[MomoWASright]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/BVyY1O0Wka0?si=8xXDGvGSZz_f9EFS

 

[keniget]

Cherki has been looking good, no?

 

[Modo]

Cherki has been looking good, no?

Better than Wirtz

 

[keniget]

Better than Wirtz

Obvs too early and all that jazz but he was a good bet. Cheap, really wanted us by all accounts and sturdy + skillful.

Fofana too.

 

[tomasjj]

Too early to jugde.
Super talented, needs to be the main man, playing off the left.

Slot not making it easy faffing about with his lame style every other game.

 

[tomasjj]

Better than Wirtz

Chrki plays for a proper manager

 

[SaRed]

Obvs too early and all that jazz but he was a good bet. Cheap, really wanted us by all accounts and sturdy + skillful.

Fofana too.

I think those 2 plus Wirtz lining up behind Ekitike, would have been a better bet rather than splashing out on Isak.

 

[jan]

Cherki has been looking good, no?

He really hasn't. Started 3 games in the league, lasted more than 60 minutes only once

 

[Tinto]

I think the only place for him is the Bobby roll with Ekitike and Isak ahead of him, our solid midfield behind and the wingbacks wingbacking like they used to wingback when we were good.

But that involves benching Salah and Gakpo and won't happen for ages

I tend to agree but Isak and Ekitike are number 9s and not wide attackers. So we'll have a system with 2 number 9s and a false 9.

Would like to see Slot try it though because Wirtz getting the ball to Mo and Gakpo hasn't given us much success

 

[keniget]

He really hasn't. Started 3 games in the league, lasted more than 60 minutes only once

Fair, though Pep has options. I'm largely asking / going off what my City supporting friend is saying (he thinks he's gonna be good).

 

[Woland]

I tend to agree but Isak and Ekitike are number 9s and not wide attackers. So we'll have a system with 2 number 9s and a false 9.

Would like to see Slot try it though because Wirtz getting the ball to Mo and Gakpo hasn't given us much success

Yeah it's not ideal is it. I dunno what else they were thinking when they bought everyone though.

 

[MomoWASright]

He really hasn't. Started 3 games in the league, lasted more than 60 minutes only once

He’s been injured hasn’t he? Went off in the first game and just started to come back.

 

[Halmeister]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/BVyY1O0Wka0?si=8xXDGvGSZz_f9EFS

It pains me to say it, but I agree with every word he says there. He's a little boy who keeps getting mauled every game.

He makes Lallana look like Lou Ferrigno.

 

[LarryHagman]

He has to play false 9 behind Isak and Ekitike, hopefully Egypt go all the way in the AFCON.

He's done ball all so far, at least that might give him a chance. Don't want him in midfield, he's a weed. I was surprised he seemed to be in the top 3 in last Sunday's MOTM thread, a lot of straw-clutching going on.

 

[Squiggles]

If we were hellbent on a 10-type player, and I've seen little to suggest we should have been, then we could have landed Semenyo and Cherki, or signed up Diaz and signed Cherki. Both would have been preferable to anything we've seen so far, sadly. Now we're just clutching that there's some payoff down the line, which isn't impossible. Performances that peak at fine or good aren't good enough. But I don't think his physicality is the only thing holding him back—none of Palmer, Foden, David Silva, or Modric are exactly brick shit houses, and they've made it work in the Premier League, so there's more to it and things within our control. Whether that can be done with the current individuals in the squad is another matter and one I'm doubtful over.

 

[Woland]

I'd say that fundamentally he isn't currently strong enough for this league. I'd say you can fix that but then I read that he wasn't strong enough for the bundesliga either and that's a concern. Of those you mention there he'd probs be most comparable to Silva or Modric, what with Palmer being a striker and Foden being quick and a winger. Neither Silva nor Modric relied on pace, but look at the profile. Silva got here a few years later into his career... Maybe that counts for something? I dunno but in that position I think that it does. Modric left Spurs for Madrid aged 27 after a season in which he'd scored 3 goals and got 2 assists. All of this is a) clutching at straws but also b) a shocking oversight by the spreadsheet lads if it does indeed turn out that he's a world-beater by the time we've had enough and let him leave, cos these kids only blossom from their mid 20s.